“Please, Reid.” I leaned in and kissed him chastely as I reached down and palmed his ass. “Please share that sunbed over there with me—and spend the night convincing me that my lost dream is about to come true. That this is really happening.” I smiled when his cockiness faded. “That’s all I want. A life with you. Always being close to you, always sharing everything with you. Calling you mine.”
Not a trace of humor lingered in his eyes.
I kissed him again, and he managed a nod.
“I guess I can do that,” he murmured.
Perfect.
Zero was the number of friends who were surprised to hear about Reid and me the following morning.
If they’d “seen this coming” and “wondered for years,” why couldn’t they have told us? Clued us in?
Whatever. It worked out for the best. Everyone was comfortable, and Reid and I hadn’t made the news, so it was incredibly easy to disappear into another bubble with him, without having to worry about how others might react.
Since this was our last full day in Florida, we made our way back to Naples early. The boat was returned, and we started driving back through the Everglades toward Homestead.
Sam drove our car. We had LC and Joey too, and I was stuck in the middle seat next to Reid. Tired as hell, I leaned against him and dozed on and off on his shoulder.
I couldn’t wait to take a shower.
Reid absently ran his fingers through my hair, and I let out a long breath and looked forward to when I could stretch my legs out properly. A shower back at the house, maybe a nap, and a lot of wandering hands. That was all I wanted.
“So when are you moving back to DC, Sam?” Reid asked.
I yawned and slipped a hand onto his thigh.
“I’ve actually thought about it, but I don’t know,” Sam responded pensively. “I can’t picture myself going back to private military, and I have a solid job at home. Plus, my old man needs me more now that Ma’s gone.”
The reason he’d moved home to Portland, if I remembered correctly. His mother had fallen ill, and she’d passed away a couple of years ago. And rather than returning to the East Coast, he’d joined his father’s logging business.
“Makes sense,” Reid replied. “I’d forgotten you went private after the Army. Where did you work, at UnitySec? The Hillcroft Group?” He mentioned a couple of the many private security businesses in DC.
“Hillcroft,” Sam confirmed. “Sure as fuck not going back there. But I do miss DC at times… We’ll see, I guess. What about you? What’re your plans now that you shut down your community?”
Reid pressed his lips to the top of my head. “I reckon I’m gonna close myself in with this overthinker for a while and make sure he doesn’t get any ideas.”
I smiled and chuckled sleepily. “I think you’re safe at this point.”
I was his. He’d told me.
For once, my mind was at peace, and I wasn’t going to ruin that.
Jesus Christ, the perfect way to wake up.
I scrubbed my hands over my face and did my best to hold back, but he didn’t make it easy for me. I’d parted my legs for comfort, and he’d seen it as an invitation to slide a finger inside me while he sucked me off, which fucked with my head. Did I like it too much? Was I a bottom now, because clearly I couldn’t stop moaning?
You and your goddamn labels. Just fucking enjoy it.
Right.
I blew out a harsh breath and returned one hand to the back of his head.
Couldn’t he join me in bed? Did he have to stand there next to it? I didn’t wanna go to the pool anymore. I wanted to stay here and lose myself in Reid.
He hummed around my cock before taking me deep. The head of me pushed against the back of his throat.
“Fuck,” I exhaled. “I’m getting close.”
